Well I guess I'll just have to hope and pray it's on 4.82, as I can't do any hardmod shit at all.
That's actually good, because the firmware flasher (physical) is hard to find. Try to get a "super slim", it shouldn't matter, but ask that the account the console is assigned to has been "deactivated", or a name and password provided.
You need 4.82 or 4.84 firmware, using "HAN" (all ps3 models) (if you have 4.82 firmware, you just need an internet connection to sign in to the PSN account you created, to activate the account for games on that "harddrive" (must be done for each harddrive you use, since the "act.dat and idps" files are saved to the harddrive, and you need those for "psn backups from nopaystation" .... you can still play bluray backups without that)
at the moment (4.82 has hantoolbox, so after you start the ps3 you don't have to use the website to, enable the hack before play) (4.84, some tools are not updated, but probably will be)
(you can use a tutorial for 4.82 for 4.84 using the ps3xploit website and for backups, using the options for 4.84)
(
try to avoid the fat ps3 models .................. anyway, I cut holes with a drill bit on the bottom of the ps3, and I cut the top of the cast in a circle above the fan that blows air in .................. the temperature is lower (laptop cooling fan below the ps3), you can stick a thermometer in one of the holes or through the top or harddrive port, and verify the temperature is lower) (i replaced the thermal paste, but you may not need to do that)
(that said, those bluray drives don't last very long, and the console has been out a while, they are not made anymore, its good to hear the fat model has bluray drive support for ps2 games, but those drives don't work that well over time) (you can play all the same stuff from the emulator on the super slim)
(minus the noise and the load times!)
(emulation by playing a ps2 game on the ps3 will cause overheating, the unit gets really HOT HOT HOT .............. best not to play ps2 or ps1, or, sony had remade a few ps2 games specifically for the ps3, those don't cause overheating)